Epstein–Barr virus induces the differentiation of semi-mature dendritic cells from cord blood monocytes

Background

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a tumorigenic virus which has effectively infected nearly all human beings with over 95% adult being seropositive. The persistence of latent EBV infection is not fully understood. Recent studies point towards a hypothesis of immune suppression and immune evasion involving regulatory T cells (Tregs) and dendritic cells (DCs). We sought to explore the mechanism of EBV suppression and immune evasion.

Methods

We compared the effects of EBV on cord blood (CB) and adult DCs differentiation and maturation including phenotype by flow cytometry, cytokine by ELISA and RT-PCR. And we evaluated the function of DC by co-culture DC and Treg by detection the expression of Foxp3, the phenotype and the cytokine profile of Tregs by flow cytometry.

Results

CB DCs derived from EBV-infected CB monocytes or from EBV-infected CB immature DCs (iDCs) displayed distinct phenotypes of “semi-mature” DCs with high expression of co-stimulatory molecules, such as CD40, CD80 and CD86 but low cytokine production, related to immune tolerance and homeostasis. While the EBV-infected adult iDCs resemble that of “pathogen-driven regulatory mature DCs” with high expression of co-stimulatory molecules, down-regulation of IL-12 secretion and up-regulation of IL-10 secretion, related to protection of host and immune evasion of pathogens. EBV infected cord blood monocytes-derived DCs drived Tregs development by driving the expression of Foxp3, increasing the expression of CTLA-4, decreasing the expression of GITR and promoted the generation of intracellular IL-2 and IL-10 by Tregs.

Conclusion

Epstein–Barr virus induces the differentiation of semi-mature dendritic cells from cord blood monocytes. The differences between CB and adult DCs suggested that the developmental maturity of the cells may affect their immune responses to EBV infection.     

Transvaginal removal of mesh exposure involving the bladder

Introduction and hypothesis

We present three cases of transvaginal removal of mesh exposure involving the bladder, including patient follow-up. Mesh exposure occurred secondary to placement of transvaginal mesh for management of pelvic organ prolapse.

Methods

A pure transvaginal technique was performed to remove mesh exposure involving the bladder. Patient follow-ups were carefully recorded.

Results

All operative steps were completed transvaginally. The duration of follow-up for the three cases was 6, 11, and 19 months. One patient experienced recurrence of mesh exposure during follow-up. The other two patients were symptom-free after surgery. There were no major postoperative complications and no recurrence of cystocele.

Conclusions

Transvaginal removal of mesh exposure involving the bladder is feasible. The pure transvaginal approach is applicable to various conditions with good outcomes, yet it cannot guarantee that exposure of residual fibers within the bladder will not recur.     

Clinical Features of Adult/Adolescent Atopic Dermatitis and Chinese Criteria for Atopic Dermatitis

Background:

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by chronic recurrent dermatitis with profound itching. Most patients have personal and/or family history of atopic diseases. Several criteria have been proposed for the diagnosis of AD. Although the clinical features of childhood AD have been widely studied, there has been less large-scale study on adult/adolescent AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features of adult/adolescent patients with chronic symmetrical eczema/AD and to propose Chinese diagnostic criteria for adult/adolescent AD.

Methods:

A hospital-based study was performed. Forty-two dermatological centers participated in this study. Adult and adolescent patients (12 years and over) with chronic symmetrical eczema or AD were included in this study. Questionnaires were completed by both patients and investigators. The valid questionnaires were analyzed using EpiData 3.1 and SPSS 17.0 software.

Results:

A total of 2662 valid questionnaires were collected (1369 male and 1293 female). Of all 2662 patients, 2062 (77.5%) patients had the disease after 12 years old, while only 600 (22.5%) patients had the disease before 12 years old, suggesting late-onset eczema/AD is common. Two thousand one hundred and thirty-nine (80.4%) patients had the disease for more than 6 months. One thousand one hundred and forty-four (43.0%) patients had a personal and/or family history of atopic diseases. One thousand five hundred and forty-eight (58.2%) patients had an elevated total serum IgE and/or eosinophilia and/or positive allergen-specific IgE. Based on these clinical and laboratory features, we proposed Chinese criteria for adult/adolescent AD. Of all 2662 patients, 60.3% were satisfied with our criteria, while only 48.2% satisfied with Hanifin Rajka criteria and 32.7% satisfied with Williams criteria, suggesting a good sensitivity of our criteria in adult/adolescent AD patients.

Conclusion:

Late-onset of eczema or AD is common. The clinical manifestations of AD are heterogeneous. We have proposed Chinese diagnostic criteria for adolescent and adult AD, which are simple and sensitive for diagnosis of adult/adolescent AD.     

Therapeutic effect of the sulforaphane derivative JY4 on ulcerative colitis through the NF-κB-p65 pathway

Inflammopharmacology - The efficacy of the sulforaphane derivative JY4 was evaluated in acute and chronic mouse models of ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate. Oral administration...     

Clinical Characteristics and Genotype-phenotype Correlation in 62 Patients with X-linked Agammaglobulinemia

Introduction

X-linked agammagobulinemia (XLA) is a primary immunodeficiency disorder caused by Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) gene mutation. Recent studies suggested genotype-phenotype correlation in XLA, but a definitive association remains controversial.

Patients and Methods

We examined the relationship between specific Btk gene mutations and severity of clinical presentation in 62 patients with XLA. Disease severity was assessed by the age of disease onset and the presence of severe infections, while mutations were classified into severe and mild based on structural and functional consequence by bioinformatics analysis.

Results

Fifty-six Btk mutations were identified in 62 patients from 57 kindreds. Variation in phenotypes was observed, and there was a tendency of association between genotype and age of disease onset as well as occurrence of severe infections.

Conclusion

A critical analysis of the circumstances upon presentation also revealed that under-recognition of recurrent infections and relevant family history are important hurdles to timely diagnosis of XLA.     

平阳霉素治疗97例婴幼儿颌面部脉管畸形的临床分析

目的:探求平阳霉素治疗婴幼儿颌面部脉管畸形的疗效。方法:筛选出婴幼儿颌面部脉管畸形的患者97例;平阳霉素8 mg,用2%利多卡因4 m l稀释,术前5 m in给予地塞米松2 mg肌注,行脉管畸形内注射。结果:采用平阳霉素注射后追踪观察1~3年,其中优58例(59.8%)、好25例(25.8%)、中10例(10.3%)、差4例(4.1%),4例出现过敏反应。结论:采用平阳霉素注射婴幼儿颌面部脉管畸形疗效确切,尤其是静脉畸形和大囊型淋巴管畸形效果最好,术中应注意药物过敏反应。     

充血性心力衰竭老年患者中性粒细胞膜脂流动性与心功能状况的关系

目的:观察中性粒细胞膜脂流动性(LFU)在充血性心力衰竭(CHF)中的变化及其与心功能状况的相关性.方法:选择CHF患者40例,正常对照者30例,用荧光分光光度计偏振技术测定外周血中性粒细胞LFU.结果:CHF组中性粒细胞LFU低于正常对照组(P＜0.01);心功能越差,LFU越低,随着心功能的改善而逐渐升高(P＜0.05).结论:中性粒细胞LFU可能参与了CHF的病理过程,在一定程度上反映了心力衰竭程度.     

麦考酚酸酯治疗幼年特发性关节炎全身型的疗效分析

目的：评价麦考酚酸酯（mycophenolate mofetil, MMF）治疗幼年特发性关节炎全身型（system onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis, SoJIA）的临床疗效。方法：35例确诊为SoJIA并初次接受治疗的患儿随机分为3组,即传统治疗方案组（对照组）,15例;MMF 1 组：传统治疗方案治疗2周后,病情无缓解,加用MMF治疗,7例;MMF 2 组：采用非甾体抗炎药+泼尼松+MMF治疗方案,13例。观察3组患儿治疗后2、4、12周的症状、体征、实验室指标及不良反应,并随访3~6个月。结果：治疗前MMF2组病程显著长于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗2周后,与对照组相比,MMF1组和MMF2组的泼尼松用量明显减少,ESR明显减低（P<0.05）;MMF1组患儿体温高于另两组（P<0.05）。治疗4周时,与对照组比较,MMF1组泼尼松用量减少（P<0.05）,ESR降低（P<0.05）;MMF2组泼尼松用量减少,体温下降并恢复至正常,WBC值降低,ESR降低,铁蛋白降低,差异均具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;MMF1和MMF2组相比,MMF2组体温更低（P<0.05）。MMF治疗组均未出现MMF用药的副作用。结论：MMF联合治疗能更好地控制SoJIA患儿病情,更快缓解其临床症状,减少联合应用的糖皮质激素药物的剂量,并有良好的安全性。     

不同发育时期大鼠小肠粘膜及派氏结T淋巴细胞发育活化的研究

目的:探讨正常SD大鼠不同发育时期肠道绒毛及PP(Peyer's patches)即派氏结形态学变化和T淋巴细胞发育及活化状况.方法:SD大鼠48只饲养于相同条件下,于16天、3周、5周、7周、9周、11周时随机取8只,取小肠组织及PP,常规制作小肠组织HE染色切片后应用图像分析技术检测SD大鼠小肠粘膜及PP形态学发育情况.收集PP,酶消化后得到单细胞悬液,应用流式细胞术测定PP中CD3+淋巴细胞及CD3+CD4+、CD3+CD8+、CD3+CD4+CD25+淋巴细胞发育情况.用RT-PCR方法检测PP中的淋巴细胞IL-4 mRNA、IFN-γ mRNA及IL-2 mRNA的表达水平.结果:(1)3～7周绒毛高度、绒毛宽度、绒毛面积及隐窝深度随周龄呈增长趋势,7周后各指标呈小幅波动.(2)PP数目及面积随周龄呈增长趋势.(3)5周时CD3+、CD3+CD4+淋巴细胞及IL-4 mRNA表达显著高于3周时(P＜0.01),5周以后各周龄间无显著性差异;5周时CD3+CD8+、CD3+CD4+CD25+淋巴细胞及IFN-γ mRNA和IL-2 mRNA表达显著低于3周时(P＜0.01),5周后各周龄间无显著性差异,16天时PP中淋巴细胞IL-4 mRNA、IFN-γ mRNA及IL-2 mRNA的表达显著低于3周时(P＜0.01).结论:小肠粘膜7周前随周龄逐渐发育成熟,7周后小肠粘膜发育渐趋稳定;PP数目和面积随周龄呈增长趋势,成年期达到最大值;断乳前后是PP中淋巴细胞发育活化重要时期.